Insect Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
Taxonomic Navigation -?-
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
» Class Insecta (Insects)
» Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies)
5 families aren't included.
Common Name
| Match | Common Name |
 | Caddisflies |
Fly Imitations by Orvis
| Stage | Fly Pattern |
| Larva | Case Caddis |
| Larva | Czech Mate |
| Emerger | SparkleWing Caddis Emerger |
| Pupa | LaFontaine Sparkle Pupa |
| Adult | Elk Wing Caddis |
Caddis species actually provide as much incentive to learn their specifics as the mayflies do. There is just as much variety in their emergence and egg-laying behaviors, and as many patterns and techniques are needed to match them. Anglers are hampered only by the relative lack of information about caddisfly behavior and identification.
Hatching Behavior
In many species, the pupae become very active just before emergence and drift along the bottom of the river, sometimes for hours. The "deep sparkle pupa" patterns introduced by Gary LaFontaine in Caddisflies are the most popular of many imitations inspired by this behavior. It is a deep nymph fisherman's dream. Sometimes they drift similarly just below the surface for a long time before trying to break through.Pupae of different species use three different methods to emerge:
- Most species rise to the surface and struggle through. They usually take flight quickly once they're out of the water, but slow species first struggle and drift long distances half-submerged as they wriggle free from their pupal shucks (Shuck: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.).
Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies. - The pupae of some species crawl out of the water on rocks, sticks, and such, so that the adults emerge high and dry.
- Some pupae rise to the surface and swim quickly across it to shore where they crawl out to emerge.
View Full SizeMost caddis pupae are good swimmers, and they use their legs as paddles rather than wiggling their bodies to move.
After emerging, caddisfly adults live for a long time compared to mayflies, in part because they are able to drink to avoid dehydration (mayfly adults cannot eat or drink). This flight period (Flight period: The span of time that the adults of an adult aquatic insect species are active and flying around, in between emergence and death. It may refer to the average adult lifespan of the individuals of that species, or to the total length of time for which at least some of them are active.) lasts anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on the species, so mating adults may be seen on or over the water long after emergence is complete.
Egg-Laying Behavior
Many caddisfly females dive underwater to lay their eggs on the stream bottom. Some crawl down objects to do this but most swim right down through the water column. The latter are responsible for my fastest trout fishing action ever -- days when trout raced each other to attack my flies the moment they hit the water, cast after cast.Others lay their eggs on the surface in various ways. They may fly low over the water, periodically dipping their abdomens to lay eggs. Others land on the surface repeatedly, fussing and fluttering in enticing commotion. Less active species may fall spent (Spent: The wing position of many aquatic insects when they fall on the water after mating. The wings of both sides lay flat on the water. The word may be used to describe insects with their wings in that position, as well as the position itself.) to the surface with all four wings spread out. Others ride the water serenely while laying their eggs, and they are the easiest to match with the dead-drift (Dead-drift: The manner in which a fly drifts on the water when not moving by itself or by the influence of a line. Trout often prefer dead-drifting prey and imitating the dead-drift in tricky currents is a major challenge of fly fishing.) techniques of mayfly fishermen.
Some egg-laying methods keep the adult females safe from trout altogether. They may drop their eggs into the water from overhanging plants, or lay their eggs on the vegetation itself. That way the eggs don't enter the river until the next rain--an excellent drought survival strategy.
Larva & Pupa Biology
Other common caddis larvae build nets instead of cases. These are not residences but hunting traps, like tiny spider webs, designed to capture plankton and smaller aquatic insects the larvae eat. One larva may build more than one net and roam freely around the rocks and logs tending to each and ingesting the catch. The net-spinning families, in order of abundance, are Hydropsychidae, Philopotamidae, and Arctopsychidae.
One large and primitive family of caddisflies, Rhyacophilidae, needs neither cases nor nets. Most of its species are predators who stalk through rocky riffles killing other insect larvae and nymphs.
All of these types are especially prone to behavioral drift (Behavioral drift: The nymphs and larvae of many aquatic insects sometimes release their grip on the bottom and drift downstream for a while with synchronized timing. This phenomenon increases their vulnerability to trout just like emergence, but it is invisible to the angler above the surface. In many species it occurs daily, most often just after dusk or just before dawn.), making them an important food source year-round for the trout in most rivers.
When caddis larvae are full-grown, they seek hiding places to pupate, either in their cases or in special cocoons. They are considered to be pupae throughout the radical reformation from grub-like larva into intricate winged adult. Some of the larva's body mass is consumed as energy for the development of the pupa, so the pupae and adults both have bodies one to three hook sizes smaller than their mature larvae. When pupation is complete, the insect which begins the emergence sequence is called a pharate adult (Pharate adult: Caddisflies are considered to be pupae during their transformation from larva into adult. This transformation is complete before they're ready to emerge. The emerging insect we imitate with the "pupa" patterns we tie is technically called a pharate adult. It is a fully-formed adult caddisfly with one extra layer of exoskeleton surrounding it and restricting its wings.). It is no longer technically a pupa in the language of entomologists, but because anglers universally recognize the term "pupa" I use that convenional misnomer throughout this site.
Sometimes individuals within the same fall-emerging species mature at different rates. In some species, mature larvae compensate for this by entering an inactive phase called diapause (Diapause: A state of complete dormancy deeper even than hibernation. While in diapause, an organism does not move around, eat, or even grow. Some caddisfly larvae enter diapause for a few weeks to several months. Some species of microscopic zooplankton can enter diapause for several hundred years.) prior to pupation. Cool fall weather triggers the end of this phase for every individual within a few short weeks, synchronizing emergences that would otherwise be spread over several months. This boosts the quality of autumn caddisfly hatches like the giant western genus Dicosmoecus.
Trichoptera Fly Fishing Tips
The presence of caddisfly adults in the air does not mean that the angler should immediately switch to an imitation. As Swisher and Richards put it in Selective Trout:They are often seen over the water when they are doing nothing more than flying around.
More often it's the caddisflies you don't see that are important, the females diving underwater to lay their eggs or the pupae drifting below the surface preparing to emerge.
66 Caddisfly Specimens:
Neophylax (Autumn Mottled Sedges) Caddisfly Adult
View 20 PicturesThis large caddisfly looks really neat close-up.
View 20 PicturesThis large caddisfly looks really neat close-up.Region: Northeast
Collected Sep 19, 2006
Added Oct 4, 2006
Rhyacophila (Green Sedges) Caddisfly Pupa
View 11 PicturesI collected this pupa and several like it from the same stream and on the same day as this larva. I suspect they're the same species. Every pupa I collected was in a brown casing like the one shown in one of the pictures below. I cut this pupa out of its case after a picture so you can see more details. It is close to but not fully developed.
View 11 PicturesI collected this pupa and several like it from the same stream and on the same day as this larva. I suspect they're the same species. Every pupa I collected was in a brown casing like the one shown in one of the pictures below. I cut this pupa out of its case after a picture so you can see more details. It is close to but not fully developed.Region: Upper Midwest
Collected Jun 5, 2005
Added May 25, 2006
Ceratopsyche (Spotted Sedges) Caddisfly Adult
View 18 PicturesThese big caddisflies were tempting trout as they wriggled out of their shucks (Shuck: The shed exoskeleton left over when an insect molts into its next stage or instar. Most often it describes the last nymphal or pupal skin exited during emergence into a winged adult.), while others skated across the water at a medium pace, probably egg-laying.
View 18 PicturesThese big caddisflies were tempting trout as they wriggled out of their shucks (Here's an underwater view of the pupal shucks of several already-emerged Brachycentrus numerosus caddisflies.
Region: Catskills
Collected May 15, 2007
Added May 18, 2007
9 Streamside Pictures of Caddisflies:
View Full Size
These caddisflies were thick over the water in the evening on a cold, clear northwoods lake. They were in many places on the lake, all closer to the shady shore, which also was the shore most sheltered from the wind. I'm not sure which of those features attracted them.
In this picture: Caddisfly Genus Nectopsyche (White Millers).
In this picture: Caddisfly Genus Nectopsyche (White Millers).
54 Underwater Pictures of Caddisflies:
Hundreds of cased caddisfly larvae live on this log in a small brook trout stream.
In this picture: Insect Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies).
In this picture: Insect Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies).
Hundreds of cased caddis larvae cling to sparse weed growth in the sand under heavy current.
In this picture: Insect Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies).
In this picture: Insect Order Trichoptera (Caddisflies).
The large caddisfly case (really less than 1/2 inch) is a Brachycentridae larva. The other cases are actually the protective sheaths of black fly (Simuliidae) pupae. The two antler-like pieces sticking out of each one are not legs, but antennal sheaths.
In this picture: True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies) and Caddisfly Family Brachycentridae (Apple Caddis and Grannoms).
In this picture: True Fly Family Simuliidae (Black Flies) and Caddisfly Family Brachycentridae (Apple Caddis and Grannoms).
Recent Discussions of Trichoptera
Newbie 2 Replies »
I am a Canuck. I grew up trout fishing in the Canadian Rockies and Purcells, and learned to tie flies way back in the 1950's. I became quite expert at it by the standards in those days but the flies we tied were all of the traditional "Royal Coachman, Silver Doctor" type. Some older fishers were tying flies on the water according to the hatches they encountered but us kids never got that sophisticated. In our teens we switched to spin fishing and it has been over 50 years (I am 69 years old in a few weeks) since I tied flies. However I am a biologist and always look under rocks and so on, and discovered caddis fly larvae when I was barely past the toddler stage.
I now live on Lake Athabasca which is way back in the sticks so to speak, and in Arctic Grayling country. (Lake Athabasca produced the world record Lake Trout at 102 lbs)I have purchased another fly tying outfit and am trying to 'catch up' to the art that has really passed me by. This summer/fall I hope to catch my first Arctic Grayling, and thus my interest in this site. I would be interested in anything anyone has about the Caddis/Mayfly/Stoneflies of the north and any information on tying such flies as well. Internet links would also be appreciated. Nice to meecha all by the way, and my compliments on the site. Gennie
ReplyDoes anyone have success fishing this hatch? 6 Replies »I now live on Lake Athabasca which is way back in the sticks so to speak, and in Arctic Grayling country. (Lake Athabasca produced the world record Lake Trout at 102 lbs)I have purchased another fly tying outfit and am trying to 'catch up' to the art that has really passed me by. This summer/fall I hope to catch my first Arctic Grayling, and thus my interest in this site. I would be interested in anything anyone has about the Caddis/Mayfly/Stoneflies of the north and any information on tying such flies as well. Internet links would also be appreciated. Nice to meecha all by the way, and my compliments on the site. Gennie
Posted by Troutnut on Sep 24, 2006 in the genus Mystacides
Last reply on May 19, 2009 by Spillerdave
I've been extremely frustrated several times by trout feeding on Black Dancers, especially on the Brule in Wisconsin. The flies gather in little swarms beneath overhanging alders along the bank, usually within a foot or two of the surface, and "dance" around. A trout or two, usually small, will appear below them and rise steadily.
This is one of the most reliable insect activities on that river in the summer. It's quite unlike any other hatch, since it never affects most of the stream. Instead, there are just little pockets of activity here and there along the bank. It would be interesting to see if some of the trout are Mystacides "specialists" who are conditioned to cruise the banks looking for this food source.
At any rate, I've never had much luck catching these trout. I've tried most often on the Brule but I've run across similar situations on Finger Lakes and Catskill rivers in New York, too. Has anyone cracked the code?
Replybright green? 1 Reply »This is one of the most reliable insect activities on that river in the summer. It's quite unlike any other hatch, since it never affects most of the stream. Instead, there are just little pockets of activity here and there along the bank. It would be interesting to see if some of the trout are Mystacides "specialists" who are conditioned to cruise the banks looking for this food source.
At any rate, I've never had much luck catching these trout. I've tried most often on the Brule but I've run across similar situations on Finger Lakes and Catskill rivers in New York, too. Has anyone cracked the code?
Posted by Phishheaduj on Jan 12, 2009 in the genus Chimarra
Last reply on Jan 12, 2009 by Taxon
i recently came across with a bright green one of these. Is that the same or a completely different species?
ReplyYou Western anglers - any experience with the Giant Orange Sedges? 7 Replies »Posted by Troutnut on Jul 29, 2006 in the genus Dicosmoecus
Last reply on Jan 7, 2009 by Dgracia
This seems to be a very important insect for which I have no experience and few sources. I want to be sure that my writeup is accurate and fairly complete. Do any of you who fish out west know any details I've left out?
ReplyOctober Caddis 19 Replies »Posted by Taxon on Jul 29, 2006 in the genus Dicosmoecus
Last reply on Oct 25, 2008 by Jack_k
Jason-
In the Pacific NW, Dicosmoecus are generally referred to as either October Caddis or Fall Caddis. The field guide I generally recommend for western fly fishers is Hatch Guide For Western Streams by Jim Schollmeyer. This is what he has to say about Dicosmoecus pupae, and I believe it clarifies any ambiguity of the passage you quoted from Caddisflies:
ReplyIn the Pacific NW, Dicosmoecus are generally referred to as either October Caddis or Fall Caddis. The field guide I generally recommend for western fly fishers is Hatch Guide For Western Streams by Jim Schollmeyer. This is what he has to say about Dicosmoecus pupae, and I believe it clarifies any ambiguity of the passage you quoted from Caddisflies:
In the early or mid summer, the larvae reach maturity and move from the faster currents to the slower flows that are generally found along the margins of the stream. Then they attach their cases to the rocks, seal themselves inside, and begin pupation. This transformation takes about two months. When the pupae are ready to emerge anytime between late afternoon and dark, they chew open the front of their cases and swim or crawl to the surface. The ones that find exposed rocks cling to them close to or just above the waterline; their pupal shucks split open and the adults emerge. Larvae that took refuge and pupated behind unexposed mid-stream rocks pupate and emerge in the open water. Most pupae emerge from waters that are too shallow or too exposed for trout. Any pupae that emerge in deep or open waters are vulnerable as they swim to shore or the surface.
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